Dr Jay Sherman Benton

Dr. Jay S. Benton

Dr. Jay S. Benton, 83, died Sunday (April 16, 2006) at Newton Medical Center. He was born Jan. 30, 1923, to Jay and Winifred (Fiser) Benton in rural Iowa County, Iowa. They preceded him in death. Dr. Benton was a deeply loved and well respected retired physician who served the Newton community for more than 25 years. His selfless devotion to his patients was well known. A nurse and former patient recently said, "Dr. Benton was an accomplished physician and skilled surgeon with a genuine, comfortable bedside manner." He was a fellow of the International Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Benton possessed a true love of God and lived his life accordingly. Throughout his lifetime, he served God by holding a variety of church and Gideon's positions on local, state and national levels. He was a highly sought after speaker and was well known for his jokes and stories, accompanied by a ready smile and twinkle in his eye.

Jay Benton began life Jan. 30, 1923, on a farm in Iowa County. He had very humble beginnings and learned early in life to excel in his studies. He went on to attend and graduate from Baylor Medical School in Houston. During this time, he met and married Geraldine May Bergesin. This proved to be a joyful and lifelong union that produced five daughters and a son. His family was a source of great pride and joy for him.

During his lifetime, Dr. Benton belonged to MENSA, Newton Bible Conference, Kiwanis, Newton Bible Church and Senior Saints. His professional affiliations included the American Medical Association. He was a former board member of Bethel Deaconess Hospital and had an honorary position with Newton Medical Center. Dr. Benton was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving as an Army doctor. In the latter years of his professional career, he practiced medicine at Tinker Air Force Base and in Buffalo, Minn. At a time when most were ending their careers, he embarked on a new career as a locum tenens physician providing fill-in or temporary medicine care at various locations throughout the Midwest. Dr. Benton finally retired at 79 when his health began to fail.

Those of us whose lives he touched will miss his kind and gentle manner.

Survivors include: daughters, Liz Vineyard and husband Richard and Tina Funk, all of Newton, Vickie Spencer and husband Lee of Glendale, Ariz., Jayne Pepper and husband Brian of Torquay, Australia; a son, Tony Benton of Riverside, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He also was preceded in death by: his wife, Geraldine Benton; an infant brother; an infant daughter, Barbara Jean Benton; and an infant granddaughter, Amber Funk.

Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday with family greeting friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Newton Bible Church with Pastor Don Myer officiating.

Memorials have been established with Newton Bible Church in care of the funeral home.